Queen

After turning out a movie soundtrack and a greatest hits LP, Queen finally got around to following up its chart-topping 1980 album The Game with Hot Space. Taking a cue from the spare, rhythmic style of the previous album's hits, "Another One Bites The Dust" and "Crazy Little Thing Called Love," the band took an austere, beat-heavy dance floor approach again, but without as much distinctiveness. The biggest American hit, "Body Language" (#11 U.S., #25 U.K.) was typical, with Freddie Mercury intoning "Give me your body" over and over, while such songs as "Back Chat" (#40 U.K.) were straight disco tracks. "Calling All Girls" (#60 U.S.) was pleasant enough, however, as far as rewrites of "Shakin' All Over" go, and "Las Palambras De Amor," the biggest U.K. hit (#17), was closer to their old rock choir approach. (The album also contained the year-old single "Under Pressure," by Queen & David Bowie.) ~ William Ruhlmann, Rovi